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Sociological Research Methods
Outline Research Methods Overview
Scientific Method
Methods (Ethnography, Interviews, surveys, experiments)
Issues in sociological research
Values, Objectivity, Reactivity
Research Methods Methods are used to show if a theory’s claim is true
Quantitative-data put into numbers for statistical comparison
Qualitative-can’t be converted to numbers – data relates to meaning
Ex. Interviews or observation
Scientific method-provides researchers with steps to follow: begin with a general question
Literature Review-thorough search through previously published studies relevant to topic
Scientific Method Does watching violence on TV cause kids to behave
violently?
1.Form a hypothesis- theoretical statement explaining relationship b/w two or more variables Variable-one of two or more phenomena that a
researcher believes are related
2.Clearly define the variables so can measure accurately
3. Predict possible outcomes
4. Researcher collects data (experiment meant to isolate variables)
5. Analyze the data
Does watching violence on television cause children to behave violently? Albert Bandura (1965)
Children more likely to hit the clown doll themselves if they saw the TV actors being rewarded for their violent behavior
If the actors were punished, children were less likely to hit clown doll
Which Method to Use? Each sociological method has its own benefits and limitations
Ethnography-method based on studying people in their own environment in order to understand the meanings they attribute to their activities
Participant observation-researcher observes and becomes a member in a social setting Access-process by which ethnographer gains entry to a field
setting Has to be negotiated carefully
Researchers can either be overt or covert in their role
Fieldnotes-detailed notes describing activities and interactions with those being studied
Reflexivity-researcher’s identity can affect what’s going on
Ethnography Advantages
Excel at telling stories that might otherwise might not get told
Challenge preconceptions and stereotypes
Disadvantages
Lack of replicability-research that can be repeated by other researchers
Degree of representativeness
Bias-opinion held by researcher that might affect the research
Interviews Interviews-face-to-face information-seeking
conversation with subjects, or respondents
can be combined with other methods
Researcher must ID target population-entire group researcher would like to be able to generalize about
Sample-smaller group who are representative of larger group
Researcher must get informed consent-subjects must know what they’re getting into and explicitly agree to participate
Interviews Researchers must be careful to avoid leading
questions-questions that predispose a respondent to answer in a certain way
Double-barreled questions-questions that involve too many difficult issues at one time
Advantages Respondents speak in own words
Discover issues that may have been overlooked
Disadvantages Not always truthful
Not representative
Surveys Survey-method based on questionnaires administered
to a sample of respondents selected from target pop. Tends to be macro and quantitative
Answers are coded (turned into numerical data)
Pitfalls: leading questions, bias, double-barreled questions, & negative questions-ask respondents what they don’t think instead of what they do
Questions should be clear, and order of questions matters
Representative sample-findings can be generalized to entire population
Surveys Probability sampling-sample group mathematically
represents the larger population
Simple random sample-each member of pop. has an equal chance of being selected
Weighting-proportion of certain variables (race, gender, etc…) more closely reflects larger population
Surveys Advantages
Quick, vast amt. of data, can study large # of people
Strong reliability-degree to which same questions will produce similar answers
Disadvantages
Don’t allow for full range of expression
Weak on validity-degree to which a researcher is measuring what he thinks he is measuring
If goal of research is to support a point of view (POV)
Experimental Methods Sociologists have two goals when using experimental
methods: Develop tools with which to observe, record & measure data
Control for all other variables
Experiments-formal tests of specific variables and effects, performed in a controlled setting where all aspects of situation can be controlled Experimental group-the part of a test group that receives
the experimental treatment
Control group-part of a test group that is allowed to continue without intervention
Experimental Methods Experiments-(Does marriages counseling help couples
stay together?)
Experimental group-the part of a test group that receives the experimental treatment
Control group-part of a test group that is allowed to continue without intervention
Independent variable-factor that is predicted to cause change
Dependent variable-factor that is changed by the independent variable
What does it mean to be a boy or girl? People treated baby differently depending on what sex they thought it was.
When subjects thought the baby was a boy, they handled it less gently and talked in a louder voice.
When subjects thought it was a girl, they held the baby closer to themselves and spoke more softly.
Experiments Advantages
Manipulate social world
Can be repeated (have replicability)
Isolate variables in a controlled setting away from “real world” distractions
Disadvantages
Seek to eliminate elements that will have an unforeseen effect
Existing Resources Existing sources-any data that has already been
collected and is available for future research
Advantages
Able to work with info you couldn’t get yourself
Able to learn about many social worlds/time periods
Disadvantages
Can be misused if original questions answered in source aren’t same
Issues in Sociological Research Value-free sociology: ideal whereby researchers identify
facts without allowing their own beliefs to interfere
Comes from Max Weber’s “Science As a Vocation”
Separate facts from values
A debate continues between
Basic research-search for knowledge without agenda
and
Applied research-research designed to allow researcher to use what is learned to create some sort of change
Bias can be shown in terms of choosing a project, sample, wording, etc…
Objectivity and Reactivity Objectivity-impartiality/facts speak for themselves What is a fact?
Racist, sexist “facts” dominated
What presently passes for fact may someday be challenged
Reactivity-ways people and events react to being studied Hawthorne effect-specific example of reactivity;
desired effect is result of research
Our presence as researchers sometimes has effect on subjects